Blood is Beautiful

Blood is Beautiful, 2015. Color, digital video, 6:49 minutes.

Blood is Beautiful explores the often-stigmatized biological phenomenon of menstruation. This short documentary features interviews with various womxn expressing a seemingly rare appreciation of their own bodies. In a society that has become desensitized by mainstream media’s fascination with violence, why is the only non-traumatically induced blood of our bodies still considered taboo? Why are womxn sold images of themselves in white skirts (usually dancing), as the absorbency of their period products is demonstrated by blue liquid placebos? Why are these products still taxed as a luxury item and not considered a biological necessity? Why are some womxn forbidden to even enter specific spaces, such as kitchens, during this potentially sacred time of the month? Why are there still young people dropping out of school upon menstruation because they do not have access to proper hygiene? Why are so many womxn convinced that their reproductive byproducts, the source of humanity itself, is something dirty, a hormonal burden to be hidden behind bathroom stalls and flowery panty liner packets? This screenshot from my film, Blood is Beautiful, features artist Scarlett McIntosh using her menstrual cup contents as a medium for her watercolor painting, in celebration of menstruation’s beauty.